Electric-lighting apparatus for christmas trees and the like



April 14, 1925. 1,533,371

J. H; BOYD ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR CHRISTMAS TRIE AND THE LIKE Filed April' 15, 1922 gmmnw gait 2 4.6824; 95

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

'UHTD STATE-S EDI-IN H. BOYD, O15 MOUNT VERNON, NEW YQRK.

ELECTRIC-LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR CHRISTMAS TREES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 15 To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. Born, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of lVestchester, State of New York, and a citizen 01" the United States, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements'in Electric-Lighting Apparatus for Christmas Trees and the like, of which the "following is a specification.

llhis invention relates to improvements in electric illumination and more particularly to an improved electric lighting apparatus for Christmas trees and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to furnish a simple, inexpensive apparatus adapted to illuminate a Christmas tree and including means for causing the lamps to intermittently flash so that the observers attention will be attracted to a greater degree than would be the case if the lamps were arranged to be constantly illuminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above character in which the means for causing the flashing of the lamps includes an ordinary clockwork mechanism that functions as a portion of the electric current conducting means and acts as a part of an intermittent switch. In the present case one of the wheels of the clock-work mechanism acts as a movable contact in the line control switch and as the wheel rotates its spokes contact with a relatively fixed terminal so that the circuit is intermittently completed and broken.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatically adjustable means for conveying the current from one part of the line to the clock-work mechanism and in this instance this member consists of a resilient or flexible metal strip which contacts with the clock spring and is bent by the clock spring as the spring expands in un winding.

With the foregoing objects outlined, and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the intermittent switch and the clock-work forming part of the same.

Fig. 8 is a detail View showing the clock- 1922. SeriaI No. 552,913.

wheel which contacts with the stationary terminal of the switch.

In the drawing, 1 designates a box or casing adapted to contain a suitable source of electro-motive force such as batteries 2. Arranged in. the casing and mounted on the rear wall of the same is a supporting plate 3 carrying insulating blocks a which space a metal clock work mechanism 5 from the support 3. This clock-work mechanism has a spring winding shaft 6 provided with an extension 7 that extends through the front wall of the casing and terminates in a crank 8. By turning the crank 8 on the exterior of the casing l the spring of the clock-work mechanism may be wound.

The clock-work mechanism illustrated is of the type employed in alarm clocks, and in order. to brake or stop the mechanism, the alarm striker 9 is engaged by an arm 10 arranged at the end of a lever 11. The other end oi said lever is fixed to a shaft 12 provided with an extension 13 that projects through the front of the casing and terminates in a hand engaging memberld. When it is desired to stop the operation of the clock-work mechanism itis only necessary to turn the handle 14 to bring the arm 10 intocontact with the striker 9 and this prevents the striker from oscillating.

Extending from one terminal of one of the batteries is a wire 15 leading to a master switch 16. From the master switch, the wire extends to a series of lamps 17. Another wire 18 leads from the lamps to a flexible resilient blade or strip 19 which has one of its ends fixedly mounted at the points 20 and its other end engaging the spring portions of the clock-work mechanism. This member 19 functions to lead electric current to the clock-work mechanism regardless of the position of the clock spring. In order to lead the current away from the clock work mechanism, I have provided a resilient tongue or terminal 21 having one of its ends fixedly mounted on an insulating block 22 and having its other end tree, so that the latter may be intermittently engaged by the spokes 2-3 of the clock-wheel 24. A wire 25 conveys the current from the member 21 to the battery.

In operation, the lamps 17 are suitably arranged on the Christmas tree and the casing 1 is placed at any desired position. Then it the switch 16 is closed and the clock-work mechanism set in operation, the circuit will lit) be automatically made and broken so that the lamps will flash intermittently.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, advantages and operation of the mechanism may be readily understood by those skilled in the art and it is apparent that changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the following claim.

\Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

An intermittently actuated electric apparatus including a clock work mechanism of electric conducting material embodying a coil spring, a source Oli electrical energy, an

electric circuit connected to said source, a resilient contact member connecting one portion of the circuit and engaging the edges of the coil spring; whereby the engaging surfaces are retained clean by the relative movement between the coil spring and contact member due to the contraction and expansion oi. said coil spring, and a member connected to another portion or said circuit and cooperating with the spokes of one of the clock work mechanism wheels for intermittently making and breaking the circuit.

In testimony whereof I hereunto itil'll'i my signature.

JOHZ H. BOYD. [as] 

